Pneumatic conveying device.



W. W. WOTHERSPODN. PNEUMATIC CONVEYING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17. 1909. RENEWED APR. 6, 1914.

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- UNITED STATES rarrnur orrron v WILLIAM WALLACE wo'riinnsroolv, or n nw onx, N. Y.

PNEUMATIC CONVEYING DEVICE. I

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented NOV, 10, 1914;

Application filed September 17; 1909, Serial no. 518,126. Rea April 6, 1914. Serial No. 830,085.

To all whom it mag concern a Be it known that I, VVILLIAM WALLACE VVOTHERSBOON, a citizen of the United States, residingv at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Pneumatic Conveying Devices, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing. 9

This invention relates to a pneumatic conveying device designed more particularly for discharging fine cargoes from vessels, and; theinvention consists of a tubular conveying body provided with suitable receiving and discharging openings and valves, in combination with controllable means for supplying air under pressure. thereto; whereby by the manipulation of the valves and control of the pressure, the cargo may be caused to flow in either direction, thereby adapting the device either for the loading or unloading of a vessel.

The'device is of such tion that it is portable in character, to adapt it to be employed in connection with wrecked vessels to discharge the cargo there from in order to facilitate the operation of the wreckers in raising the vessel. The device may, however, be built in as a permanent part of the vessel, or it may be usedin any other manner as occasion may demand.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 represents a transverse section through a vessel,

showing the conveying device applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the device on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is Fig. l. I

In the accompanying drawings: 1 represents a'tubular body permanently closed at its lower end and having applied to its upper end a removable cap 2'.

3 represents a receivmg opening enterlng theside of the tubular body, and into which opening the cargo from the interior of the vessel is introduced previous to its discharge through the tubular body to the outside. This opening is closed by a hinged door 3 adapted to be locked tightly in closed position by means of a locking bolt 3 or by other appropriate means. 4 represents a second opening through the side of the tubular body for the discharge of the cargo into the vessel when loading, which opening is closed form and construcj by door 'adapted to be locked tightly in i 5 represents a valveapplied to the tubular. l

body above the opening 3, and adapted to close thepassage through the body at this point.

This valve consists of a horizontal valve plate 5*, slidable horizontallyin acase h1g5 fixed to the tubularbody, and provided with a valve stem 5, extending outwardly througha stuffing box 5 in the. valve case, the outer end of the steinhaving jointed to it a hand-lever 5 pivoted to the end of an arm 5 projecting from the side of the body 1. I By theoperation of this handle,

the valve maybe: slid across the passage i. in the body, as shown in Fig.3, thus closing said passage, orit may be, slid outwardly,

free of said opening to leave'the passage an Y obstructed at this point. 6 representsga similar valve applied .to the body'below the 2 discharge opening l. This valve consists; of

a valve plate .6, slidable horizontally ina valve casing 6", and adaptedto be operated by the hand-lever 6; pivoted to the'tubular body 1, andijointedto a stem 6 extending. inwardly through. the valve casing and 'connected at its inner end to the valve plate,

so that by the operation of the lever the passage through the body 1 may be closed, or opened at thispoint as desired.

7 representsa pipe entering the upper endv of the tubular body, through which pipe, air under pressure is introduced when the, device is employed for loading the cargo into the vessel. This pipe is provided with a, y

cut-oft valve 7 for shutting off the supply, of air. 8 represents a similar pipe entering the tubular body at its opposite end and below the valve 6, which pipe is for the introduction of air under pressure when the device is employed for discharging the cargo from the vessel, a valve 8 being provided in the pipe to cut off the air pressure at this point when desired.

In the operation of the device it is suitably sustained in upright position in the vessel with the two openings 3 and 4 in the hold from which the cargo is to be discharged, or into which the cargo is to be loaded, and the end pipes? and 8 connected with a suitable source ofair pressure, acompressor 9 being shown connected by pipes 10 and 11 with the pipes 7 and 8 respectively. v

If the cargo within the vessel is to be valve plate 6*, until it reaches the level of the opening 3. The door 3 to this opening is then closed, and slide valve '6 quickly opened, thus permitting the air to act on the mass of cargo in the tubular-body, with the result that it will be driven by the air through the body and discharged through the open upper end of thesame to the 'outa side. Valve 6 is now closed again, and the door 3 opened to admit another-charge of cargo to the interior of the body, and after this charge has been shoveled in, the foregoing operations are repeated, resulting in a a second discharge of cargo to the outside, and

so on, the cargo being thus removed fromthe vessel by successive discharges, of portions of the same introduced into the tubular body through the receiving opening 3.

In the-use of the device for loading cargo into the vessel, air valve 8' is closed, slide valves 5 and 6 closed, door 3 closed and door 4' opened. Cap 2 is then removed and the cargo shoveled into the upper end of the tubular body and piled upon the valve plate 5. The cap is then replaced and air valve 7 opened to admit air above the mass of material supportedon the valve plate. This valve is next quickly opened, with the result that the air actingon the material will drive the same downward through the body and outwardly through opening dand into the hold of the vessel. The air valve 7 is then closed again, valve 5 is also closed as before, and cap 2 again removed. A second charge of cargo is then shoveled in, and the foregoing operations repeated, with the result that a second charge will be delivered to the ves- The cargo is then sel, and so on, the cargo being thus loaded in by successive charges.

l/VhileI have shown and described my invention in its preferred form by way of eX- ample, it will be understood that the details may be variously modified and changed within the .skill of the mechanic without departing from its limits, and it will be further understood that it is not limited to any particular form or embodiment except in so far as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Having "thus described my invention, its construction and mode of operation, What I claim and desire to's'ecure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In a pneumatic conveying device, the combination of a tubular body provided with two openings each adapted to either receive or discharge material, independent closures for said openings, cut on valves located respectively on opposite sides of one 01 the openings,means for the admission of air under pressure at the outer side of one of the valves, and means for the admission of air under pressure at the outer side of the other *of said valves; whereby the material may be driven either direction through the body.

2. A pneumatic conveying device comprising in combination, a tubular body closed at one end and open at the other end and pro-- vided with side openingsyclosures for said side openings, a cut-off valve between the closed end of the body and one of said side openings, a second cu 't-ofi valve between the other side opening and theopen end of the body, means for closing the latter at will, and means for introducing air under pressure to either end of thetubular body as desired.

In testimony whereof I affix-my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEO. R. PHILLIPS, GRACE B. PERRY.

Gop1es 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

